Automatic phonograph



Filed Oct. 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig- (Ema; 62 0a? J- E. STOUT AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH May 2, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1945 R Q mx Nx R n QM RQN QM NNN N 1 & M A a EN Q SQ wl I? Jkmas E J'ZiZ May 2, 1950 Filed Oct. 10, 1945 J. E. sTouT 2,506,523

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 s lmmfimw HfiHIHIHiHll grwowtov (Tamas 1570a? y 1950 J. E. STOUT 2,506,523

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed bot. 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I/IJi A INVENTOR.

Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES I-PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in automatic phonographs and involves improvements over the mechanism illustrated and described in applicant's prior patent 1,449,252, granted March 20, 1923.

The invention further resides in improvements over the Moore Patents 1,800,803, granted April 14, 1931 and 1,875,641, granted September 6, 1932; over the Bodwell et al. Patent 1,837,608, granted December 22, 1931, and over the Wilcox Patent No. 2,002,236, granted May 21, 1935.

More particularly the invention resides in the provision of means by which any record or records in the magazine stack may be selected and played by simply pressing buttons corresponding to the numbers desired, in which the pressing of the buttons starts the mechanism, with provision for automatically stopping the mechanism when the last selected record is finished.

In a specific aspect the invention consists in constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed for carrying out the above mentioned objects and purposes with fidelity and in a manner to insure accuracy in the playing of the records selected.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line in Figure 2 through an automatic phonograph constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the cam and clutch mechanism including the clutch tripping mechanism with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the selector mechanism taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 5.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of the selector mechanism taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l5 designates the frame of the machine and I6 a stationary tube for housing the rotary and vertically-slidable spindle afiixed to the turntable l8.

A coil spring I9 is wound tightly about an annularly ridged and grooved section of the spindle H, such spring l9 being contained in a recess 2"! in the lower end of a spindle carrier sleeve 2|. The recess is closed by a removable collar 24 fastened by set screw in the carrier sleeve 2| for the purpose of installing grip spring 5, 19. This spring is loosely fitted into the recess,

annularly, and is carried axially up or down as the case may be by the collar 24 or top wall of the spring recess 21 in the sleeve 2|. According to the illustration record No. 6 is in playing position lo -and the spring I9 is relatively in the center of the ridged or corrugated section of spindle l1, there being twelve records shown.- A roller 22 projects radially from the sleeve 2| through a vertically-elongated slot 23 in the tube It; and into !5: a helical track or slot 25 in a cylindrical cam 26. The sleeve 2| is unconnected with the spindle H except through the resilient frictional grip of the coil spring l9; thus as the cylindrical cam 26 rotates and the roller 22 traverses helical track 2025 the sleeve 2| is raised and lowered, compelling the entrained coil spring |9 to lift and lower the spindle I1 and turntable 8 therewith. The sleeve 2| is non-rotary due to the entering of roller 22 in slot 23 and helical track 25. The spindle I1 25; moves up and down vertically but does not rotate.

A cam shaft gear 28 meshes with a drivingv worm 29. This gear 28 runs idly on its tubular integral stud 30 except when changing records.

The gear 28 rests on a frame bearing 3| in which tio the stud 30 is rotatably journaled.

The tone arm operating cam 32 is fastened as by a pin 33 to shaft 34 and has a radially-toothed hub 35 adapted to engage a similar radiallytoothed hub 36 on the gear 28. 5 -jects down through the tubular stud 30 and has a key 31 on its lower end fitting into a slot 38 in the upper end of the shaft 39 to which the cylindrical cam 26 is affixed as by a pin 40. The key 31 and slot 38 impart rotation from gear 28' 40 through clutch 35, 36 when engaged but permit of longitudinal play in the vertical movement of shaft 34 to open and close clutch 35, 36.

Affixed to the top of shaft 34 and by a screw 42 is a record-separating cam 4| which,

cooperates with means for separating records in the record stack or magazine 43.

The worm 29 on the main driving shaft 44 meshes with a vertically-toothed section 45 of a turntable driving hub 46, the teeth of section 45' 5 slidable up and down with respect to the worm teeth without disturbing the driving relation, thereby accommodating various playing elevations of the turntable 3. A spring 41 coiled about the hub and resting on the upper end of the tube It maintains driving pressure of top flat The shaft 34 prosprings 59.

surface of 46 against similar bottom surface of turntable I8 for the rotation of the turntable I8, throughout the range of playing elevations. An electric or other motor 48 drives the shaft 44."

A short downward extending stud integral with the turntable runs in spindle IT. The dotted lateral flange at top of spindle I! and part thereof servesto steady the turntable laterally while the driving hub 46 provides rotation by friction of surface in contact'with turntable. Both the turntable and the driving hub run freely on spindle. H which moves only vertically. The hub 46 with toothed section 45 rotates freely about spindle I1.

Hollow magazine posts 49, shown for example as three in number, house arms 58 pivoted attheir' lower ends 5| to swing towardand from the record stack 43. At their upper portions the arms 59 carry fingers 52 pivoted at 53 opposite'slots 54 in the posts 49 through which the free end portions of'the fingers project to enter between orzb'eneaththe recordstack 43. The'fingers52 jpivot-in a: vertical plane to permit bosses or detents-55 on the lower sides of fingers 52 to move into and out of engagementwith the lower edges of: the post slots-54. At theirinner ends the bases ofthe fingers 52 are wide and have separated outstandingxprongs 56 and 51 to be engaged by flat springs 58. Tension springs 59 are connected between the arms 59 and their respective posts 49'. Gompression springs 68 backed by the posts exert thrust against the arms i1 through plunger heads 62 on rods 6 I slidable through perfora tions 63 in the arms 59. The several rods (ii are radial of the-.machine and the inner ends of the same arepositioned to engage the periphery of the disc'oarn 4 I. Stops a5. and 66'limit the pivotal movementof the arms 50.

'In'the position shown in Figure l the weight. of records 43' keeps fingers 52 down to a point wherethe detent's'55- encounter the lower edges 2 oilslots 54. In this down position of the fingers: 52 the upper prongs 56 are rotated away from contact with fiat springs 58 which exerts a pressure'on lower prongs 5T tending constantly to raise the fingers 52 to an up position where. the detents 55 clear the bottom walls of slots 54. The'weight of the records 43 exceeds the load of flat springs 58 and it is only when this weight'is lifted from the fingers that the flat springs 58 can rotatetheifingers 52 tothe up position and it is only-in the up position of fingers 52 that arms. 58 jcan bepulledback against stops 66 by tension- The stronger oppositely-acting" compression springs 68 overcome the weaker tension springs 59 to normally swing th'earms out against the outer stops 65. When-the high point of disc cam 4I pushes outwardly on rods' '6l= compression springs'69 are compressed and consequently tension springs 59 become influential in pulling back the arms whenever detents 55 are freed.

The conventional tone arm 61 rotates about its axis member 68, being moved by a connecting link 69 (Figure 2) having a pin or outturned end (V "I8 slidable in a slot II of the tone arm control lever 12 pivoted at 13."

V The tonearm control lever I2 is urged toward the'c-am' 32 by a pressure finger l4 pivoted at 'l5 on the framework andhavinga'tail-piece I6 pulled by a spring 11 yieldably against an adjust-'- able screw stop 18. 3 lower 19 on the side of the lever 12 engages the peripheral edge of'the cam'32. 1 V

A hook-shaped" member 80" (Figure 3) 1 on -the 'A projection or'cam. fol

- together by the pivot" Iflflrat.

fulcrumed at 88 on a bracket 89 and is let down by gravity of cam 32 assembly. The lever 82 is ful'crumed at 84- on a bracket 9'ih The bow spring 7 8Tis fastened at one end9l'to the lower side of the cam 32. A helical shaped member 92 on the clutch collar 35 is arranged on rotation to engagelbeneath the free end portion of clutch control lever 86.

A pin93'upstanding from the cam 32 and rotating. therewith entersr-a recess 94 in non-rotary bushing'95 when the clutch is disengaged, that is when'the cam 32 and its integral clutch member 35 are raised. As seen in Figure 3 the right-hand ends of. both'pint93 and recess 94 are inclined'so that when the cam 321s rotated to the right the pin 93 will ride'do'wnout of the recess 94 and pushthe cam 32 and its'con'nected clutch mem-- ber down into positive engagementwhen clutch is released toengages V A push rod 9 6{is.positioned' for vertical sliding movement in" the frame" having a rightangularly turned upper' end 91 positioned beneath tripper arm 82 and'having a lower right 'angularly turned'end' 98 positioned to be lifted byone member ofa divided selector arm 99. The two members of the arm 99'are for the purpose of straddling the-tube I6 but the" same are joined web IIlIat'theothe-r end so as'to constitute'in mechanical effect ia singletarm- 99 which has an elongated slot 192 aboutthe' pivot I06; A spring or springs I03 woundfabout pivot I08 engage-a pin orpins; IM'on"v the 'selector'arm 99'so as to normally lower the armttoi the lowermost positionof Figure 1; The arm 99 is .raised'by contact of a lug I05 with the web I8I; the lug I being ona collar I06-fixedon the; lower end portion of the spindle I1. Theilug' I85projectsfthrough a,

guide slot 191 tube I6. 'The upper and lower end"walls:of 'theislotzl91 constitute stopsfor the lug: I851 The lower encb of the-spindle II' rests on a counterbalance spring I08 housed within the' lower partof-itube- I 6.

The arm-web lfl'fcarriesa slide'ba-r: I09 hav ing slots III] to slide back and forthon screws or" pins III held by thei-web lfll. A spring IIZ on the web IBI- tends to yieldingly retract the shoe bar- I89 b'ut p'ermits theslide bar tolbe pro.-. jected out from the arm. The outer end of slide bar I 89' is of "a wi'dth' to move rre'e1y:up and down in the vertical slot between'the opposedside edges [I3 of a'c-railtrackfl I4 held'to thetube I 6 onto other frame parts I by th'e' bracket arms II5. At'-the outer free end-of the 'slide bar I99 are lateral extensionsllt to overlapthe inner side-faces ofthe more or sid'e edges H3 o'f'the C-rail track II4. In -the'upper swinging movementof'the arm 99 the lateral extensions II6 are adapted to slide/over the inclined bcttomedges of ratchet teeth I I1 onth'e-inner'faces of the jaws H3. which movement is accompanied by the outer sliding of'the'slide bar'IDl-l on web I9I as permitted by spring II2" which promptly pulls the slide-bar" I09back to the-right (Figure 1) whereby toengage the lateral extensions I I6 with "the upper "horizontal edges of the ratchet teeth one end and by the The lateralexten's'ions I I'6 are also arranged-I as indicated in Figure 1 to engage the curved lips III! at the lower ends of the jaws II3. A raised rib II9 on the free end of the slide bar 09 is arranged in the path of the inner ends of a vertical bank of sliding latches I corresponding in number to the number of records in the magazine. The latches I20 slide horizontally through a supporting plate and through slots I22 in the base of the C-rail track II4, having inclined lower edges I23 to engage the lower edges of the slots I22 to cause the inner ends of the latches I20 to ride upwardly until the ratchet teeth I24 clear the lower edges of the slots I22; whereupon the latches I20 fall by gravity into the position shown by the uppermost latch in Figure 5 with the ratchet tooth I24 interlocking with the lower edge of the slot I22 to hold the latch against being automatically returned to the outer position. Downturned lugs I25 on the inner ends of the latches I20 are adapted to be engaged by the rib 9 on the slide bar I09. The latches I20 have individual springs I26 for yieldably urging them outwardly, that is to the left in Figure 1 and the free ends of these round springs I26 which extend beyond the latches I20 are positioned to engage a swinging switch bar I21 pivoted at its upper end I28 and normally hanging in such position that the switch at I29 is open. A spring I30 tends to pull the switch bar |2'| to the left to hold the switch I29 open.

A pawl I3I pivoted on the switch bar I21 has a tooth I32 adjoining inclined edge I33 adapted to hook over a pin I34 extending between the jaws '3 when the switch bar is pushed to the right by one of the latch springs I26. The pin I34 is above the topmost latch I20 and above a point where the jaws I33 are cut-away to permit the lateral extensions I I6 to pass from the inside to the outside of the C-rail track II4. A dependent leg I35 on the free end of the pawl I3I is arranged to be encountered by the rising arm 99 to lift the tooth I32 from the pin I34.

The operation is as follows:

As shown for best description Figure 1 indicates the machine in playing position on No. 6 record, there being twelve records in the stack. No. 6 latch I20 has been pushed in.

But to consider the operation from the start, assume the mechanism to be stopped in the normal inoperative position, i. e. the turntable I8 in'the extreme top position, all records on board. The tone arm 61 has been swept aside where it will remain until ready to play a selected record. In this position the bottom record is slightly above the protruding fingers 52. The motor control switch I29 has previously been opened at this point by means of the spring I30.

In this position the selector arm 99 also has been carried to its topmost position as shown indotted lines in Figure 1. Here as shown, the slide bar I09 has arrived at the cut-away portion or opening in the jaws I I 3 of the C-rail track II4. It will be understood that in rising from the lowermost position of the arm 99 the lateral extensions 6 engage curved lips II8, pulling slide bar I09 out so that the lateral extensions may pass within C-rail track and engage the ratchet teeth 1. In thus moving the spring H2 is put under tension. Consequently when the arm 99 reaches its uppermost position where the lateral extensions are presented to the cutaway portions |36 the extensions are no longer under the restraint of the jaws I I3 and the spring 2 is free to retract the slide bar I09, drawing the'extensions 6 to the outside of the jaws |I3, down which they may freely move without interference from the ratchet teeth I". As soon as the lateral extensions II6 clear the jaws the spring I03 swings the selector arm 99 to its lowermost position.

Now upon pressing in one of the selector latches I20, for example No. 6, the motor switch I29 is simultaneously closed by spring I20 moving switch bar I21. clutch 35, 36 being already engaged, cam 26 starts the turntable on its downward travel. Before the lowermost record thereon contacts the fingers 52, these fingers have receded out or the path of the records by reason of the action 01* cam 4| against push rods 6| and springs 60. The

detents 55 do not engage the lower edges of slots '54 as the centerpose springs 58 have raised the fingers 52 to a point to clear the detents 55.

Hence the turntable I8, spindle I1 and collar I06 descend on the tube I6 to the extreme lower' end of their travel. As the lug I05 descends the selector arm 99 follows down by action of its spring I03. Incidentally pressure is built up in the counterbalance spring I09 which overcomes the weight of the turntable, records, etd, and bears the roller 22 upwardly against the lower'- part of the cam track 25.

As the selector arm 99 and slide bar I09 ap-- proach the lower end of their travel the lateral extensions II6 sliding down the outer faces of f jaws |I3 encounter the outer faces of the curved lips 8 so that extensions H6 and slide bar I09 are automatically shifted to the right the required distance to enable the extensions II6 to clear the outside faces of the lips and then subsequently be returned by the spring II2 to a central position where on the next rise of arm which in this example is No. '6. Upon engagement against this latch the selector arm 99 is brought to a stop; thereby lug I05, spindle I'I, turntable I8 and records thereon are held sta tionary at this elevation. At this point cam 4| releases its pressure on push rods 6| and compression springs 60 and allows springs 60 to againcome into play and project fingers 52 between records No. 6 and No. 7, this being the elevation at which the turntable I8 has come to stop relative to selector latch No. 6.

With the spindle thus arrested the cam 26 continues to raise sleeve 23, the spring I9 allowing for such relative movement by slipping upwardly over the slightly corrugated section 20 of the spindle I1. However, this grip spring I9 must hold rather firmly through other operations.

Now that the records have been set for divi sion on the selected number the cam 26 continues into a second cycle and starts the turntable on a downward travel. Soon after the records above" the fingers 52 are left to rest thereupon the cam 4| presses back the compression springs 60 but the fingers 52 are locked out by the detents 55. As the turntable lowers, the spindle I'I carries down the collar I06 and lug I05 which allows selector arm 99 to descend. However, arm 99;

moves down only a slight degree sufficient to disengage latch I20 and settle the lateral extensions The motor 48 starts, the cam shaft Travel proceeds until the slide bar H6 tgz gainst the :immediate :ra'tchet :tooth *1 H there: tmresid'e until the nextchanging. cycle.

wfrheturntablecontinues.to descend to a point just:.below the playingpposition: cf the. record-selected, meanwhile picking up rotation-:by-contact with-driving hub- 46; then, by virtue of the track 25 f cam 26, is-caused to :rise, gently-engaging theerecord against the predisposed needle. The tOne-armtl -is=borne-into this starting position byzmeans of the tone arm control lever l2,'the lateral nextension -39 of which has followed the contour of; cam -321to the point of clearance .;as

shownin-Figure 2. The-above positioningisfurtrier-determined by finger 14 andthe setting-of screw stop 18.

s-zit this time the camshaft clutch 35, 36 is disengaged;.and the record is played :to the finish groove. ll he'declutching is permissible when pin 93aarr ives opposite-recess 94 intowhich the pin ispushed-by-the expansionsof spring 81 reacting against-lever 85 (Figure 3) i-Asvthe-needleis led inward bythe finish groove the ,tone arm fil' islswept toward the centerof 'therecord. With it is carried the tone arm operating lever 'l'i-by. means of the connecting link i9. As..this-.occurs the hook shaped member 8!! slides under the inclined lower-edge oftripper :arm.'82,:;thus raisingsaidarm, which bellcranks toaremove its upturned end from beneath clutch controllever 86. Beingsupported uponlever 86 through .spring .81, the cam 52, with its clutch hub 3-5; drops .by gravity into engagement with clutch teethl36- of gear28, and the cam shaft assembly is .set. in-rotation. V

,.,I,nmiediately cam .ZG-lowers the turntable and.

records thereon toclear the needle as the .tone armlfilrests on an adjustable support-within the arm. Thereuponthe tone arm Si is carried .aside to clearthe -edge of the records, the tone arm operating lever 12 executing this *movement through its lateral extension l9 impinging against the periphery of the. cam 32.

.--. Meanwhile cam ,26 has lowered the turntable,

spindle l. and its assembly to theextreme bottomposition where lug I on collar I05 abuts against thelower end wall of the guide-slot I01 .instube' H3. The carrier sleeve23 continuesdownwafdzwhile grip spring. l9 allowsslippage on spindie I! until sleeve 23- arrives at itslowermost positionmelative to bottomof track 25 of cam-26r E'Ihus the spindle l? is gripped in relative positionto carrythe turntable to the extreme top positiomi. e., clearing 'thebottom record thereon above the fingers EZ which thenare caused to protrude as previously described. In this position:

the-.power, supply is. out 01T and the mechanism stops ready for the next play. As the top record onothe turntable, in this case No. 6,.rose against fingersQEZ, detents. 55 were disengaged and the fingers were retracted by springs 59, clearing the path for the'upwardly-moving records;

.LDuring the first partof the cam shaftcycle, or

just after theclutch35,-36 has been engaged, thehelical shaped member 92, affixed to cam 32, hooks under clutch control lever 86, raising it to a .point where tripper arm end 85. can drop under theleveriifi, thus. resetting lever 86 in normal. position. 7

It is to be .noted that in any case whenthe turntable ascends to its topmost position the clutch control lever 86 is retripped as follows: se-

lectorarm 99, which is also in top position, en-

gages push rod 95 at its lower end 98, hearing it upward against tripper armL82 at itsupper end 81.; thereby, .as described in previous tripping action; sallowing continued engagement zofwtheclutch-3 5, 36 :for.-.a.-..second.-cycle. -A.second cycle:

is necessary in two..cases-;-first, whenthemechanism stopseinsinoperative position,. i. -e.,. ready for the :selectingnycle :ofany: record ;.zsecond, .in -zcase,

while machine is playing-a. selection is: registered I forsone-ormore of thee-records stillin themaga- I zine stack :oraresiding-onthe. fingers .52. .Itwill berapparent that reloading theturntable with.-all

records is then;necessary aheadeofxthe.nextuselecting cycle. .ln-eithercase duringthe reloading cycle.the-.-tone. zarm;is detainedin clear ofs-the recordsbytheend-83;ofvthe.tripper arm.82,-which is-lthen in. the path-r ofboss-8l .of :the tone .arm operatingdever 12.

operation. ofthe: selector is as: follows: Byeexerting aninward pressure with thepush buttons 13].. onotherwise .onthe tapered ends 138 I oi .the -latches LZ-IL' they will be. depressed-against the .-action1.of-spring 216 With a. .downward .tend

ez-icy,.causingthe latch tohooksover andlock by engagement-of its ratchet tooth .l 24vvith the lower edgeof slot I22, as-shown in-Figurefi by..latch No. 1.

slide bar 109 so-..-that .when,-the selector Harm. travelsupward, such. r-ib H9 engages the aforesaid hock 1 25, as shown .in Figure lin-connection-with latch No. 6. This engagement locks the latch from retractionaby itsgspring flfi-,as;the inner -end..of the latch .is raised-by the rising arm. .99 to -=a position .-where the ratchet tooth .I 24 islii'tedirom the bottom edge of -slot-l.22. sThe latchfis borne-against the iupperaedge; of slot .122

.by pressure of the selector varm 99 .as the grip ceeds .-on-.selections up its.travel,. playing through No. .l, the mechanism making only one cyclelto change each-record. ..If,.howev.er, selector latches l2il.,.are depressed'betweenNdfi andNo. 12.dur.- ing .theplayingof N0. -6,.the..turntab1e.must be reloaded before-a higherrecord or a recordremaining .abovethe .fingers .can select. ,So-the selector arm 99 will have to travel to..its topmost positiongretrip the clutch arm, aspreviously .described, allowing .tliev reloaded turntable to .de-

' scend, then to complete, the selectin CyOle,. a

previouslydescribed. Thisrmakes it necessaryior thetselector 'arms99 :to reside just below each selector lat'ch :during the playing oiiits ;:respective record; and not return toiits bottom position lunlessithe turntable is fully, loaded with records; else it might'try to select a record 1 that is not even on theturntable.

The slide bar me, by virtue of *the centerposing spring 12, allows for'the ratchet action betweenlateral extension H6 and the teethj I'I. Theretention of the selector arm99 is (effected when "slide bar 109 is released..from..engal ement with the selector .latches l 20 and .iadrawn back by spring ll 2 soias to engage. lateral extensions This imposes-the hook end i25eof the latchin the path ofthezraisedsrib H9 -,.of,-.the

the selector latch springs I26 but is still held incontact position by pawl I3I which engages over pin I34. Thispawl I3I is not disengaged until selector arm 99 reaches its topmost position which representsv the normal stand-by position of the :mechanism, when the switch bar I2! is released and the mechanism stops by opening the-circuit at 1.2.9.v Of course, if pawl I3I is disengaged betweenselectionsi'still registered to be played, the selector latch springs I26 retain the switch bar I2 'I in the on position.

As lon The notch 94, .inbushing 95, best shown in 'Fig- 'ure 3, receives pin; 93 aflixed to shaft 34 for the purpose of timing out the clutch. As spring 81 rides over arm 82 (clutch member down or in) tension of spring is built up to press clutch member up or out. This cannot actually take place until pin 93 is coincident with the notch 94 which is the proper stopping position of the cam shaft relative to playing position of the turntable. The inclined surfaces of the notch 94 and pin 93 tend to force clutch into full engagement in case it does not fully drop by gravity but does catch enough to impart rotation.

The pawl I3I carries a tooth I32 to hook over a pin I34 in the c rail to hold switch bar I2I 35 with contact I29 in the on position even after springs I26 have been released. The hook I32 is disengaged by contact at top position of selector arm IDI which is stand-by position of mechanism.

If, while a record is playing a higher num-;-

bered (or lower latch) selection is pressed, the selector arm I III will cycle through the top position disengaging the hook or pawl I3I but the contact bar I2I is then being held on by the latter selected latch. This member I3I and.

its pawl may be a flat steel stamping if desired.

Referrin to Figure 2, the diiierence in radius between the point at which the extension I9 of lever 12 leaves contact with cam 32 and the extreme outer radius of cam 32 represents travel of the tone arm from a position clear of the records to the point at which the needle engages the starting groove of the record; therefore, the stop I8 is adjusted to predetermine this latter position. At this position of the cam 32, the cam shaft stops to allow the record to play. As the needle traverses the record toward the center, the extension I9 of arm I2 travels into the recess of the cam 32 where it is engaged at the end of the record when the cam shaft is set in rotation carrying the tone arm across the record and clear of the records. A slight differential in the aforesaid radii is amplified by leverage to accomplish the necessary clearance, which is actually only one inch in needle travel.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims:

1. A record changer comprising a turntable for carrying a stack of phonograph records, a vertically movable post rotatably carrying said turnz- 10 table, a tubular shaft mounted over said-post for relatively rotatable and vertically sliding motion and having a rotatable driving hub adapted to contact said turntable, rotary means for both rotating said tubular shaft and for raising and lowering said post and turntable, a projection movable up and down with said post, a movable selector arm in the path of and moved by said projection, selector latches movably mounted and selectively depressible into the path of said arm for arresting the movement of the arm and said turntable to-bring the records to a selected elevated position controlled by the particularlatch selected, horizontally movable fingers mounted adjacent the record stack and adapted to enter between records of the stack to divide the same into upperandlower sections and to support the upper section,.-finger projecting means timed to project the fingers following the arrest of the upward movement ofthe-.turntable and record playing means movable into and out of the path of the records for playing the top record of the lower section when the turntable is lowered to expose such record.

2. A record changer comprising a turntable carrying a stack of phonograph records and being movable vertically and also rotatable, elevating means for raising and lowering said turntable, horizontally projectible supporting means positioned to enter between selected records and to divide the stackof records into upper and lower sections and for supporting-the upper section, a projection movable up and down with said turntable, a movable selector arm in the path of and adapted to be moved by said projection and having a selector latch nose, a plurality of horizontally movable latches vertically disposed above one another and corresponding to the various records on the record stack, latch means for holding said latches in the depressed position, retracting means for restoring the latches to origin position when said latch means is released, said nose positioned in the path of said latches when depressed and moving in a direction to disengage said latching means, secondary latching means between said latches and said nose, said nose adapted to fall by gravity to disengage said secondary latching means, projecting means timed to project said supporting means between the records when the same have beenhalted by the engagement of said nose with a depressed latch, said elevating means adapted to subsequently lower said turntable with the lower section of records, and a movably mounted reproducing tone arm having a needle movable into playing engagement with the exposed upper record of the lower section, and means for rotating said turntable.

3. A record changer as claimed in claim 2 characterized by the fact that the first mentioned latching means comprises slots through which the inner end portions of the latches are slidable with bars below the slots to receive notched shoulders of the latches.

4. A record changer as claimed in claim 3 further characterized by the fact that upwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces on the under sides of the latches originating from said shoulders are adapted to rest on the bars when the first mentioned latching means is released by reason of the nose encountering and lifting an inner end of a latch.

5. A record changer as claimed in claim 4 characterized by the fact that the second latching means comprises hooks mutually turned toward ace-ates one-another upon' the-inner endsf the latches "an'd upon the outer'end'of tlie'-nose.-

i 65 A record changer as -claimed in claim 5 :wherein a guide-for the nose is provided with 12 V r upper record of tliealowersection exposed for playing, projecting means for projecting said supporting meansat a selected 'elevatioir of-the V *tiirntabl'e and reoord" stack, drive 'means forz the ratchet means to limit the downward moyement 5 projecting means, a clutch for connectingsaid "or the nose substantiallj beyond a point where necessary to release the secondary latching means. V 4 V a '75 A record changer as claimed in claim 6 driving means and'projecting means, clutch disengaging means comprising a clutch controlled lever carried" adj acent said clutch and" a" spring carried by said clutch in the 'path' of said lever wherein the nose-is spring-'biased'to an inwardly 10=-and' 'so related"thereto: as" to be compressed'by retracted position, aguide'bar spaced inwardly from-the inner endsof the latches, said guide said lever to place 'the cIutch under disconnecting tensiom-and' means for maintaining the: clutch engaged in opposition zt'o such tension and ti'med to permit disengagement of the clutch when-the ter the depressed latches' as-tl'ie projection lifts top' record of'the? lo wensectionj isi inyplaying;

the'selector arm,

8 A*recordchangercomprisinga rotatable and vertically 'movable'turntable carrying a stack of records, elevating means "for raising' and lowering positioni I 10!:A record changer as claimediri'tclai-m 9 in which a tripper' arm aisf pii otally 'mountedcrossl'- wise of: theclutcrr' control 1' lever having? an upsaid turntable; rotary means for rotating said go turned porti n d p upportaiciutchrcontrol turntable, playing meansforengagingand playing aselectedrecordonsaid'turntable, a selector mechanism for arresting the 'elevatingmovement of theturntableat a selectedvertical: position,

' strong springs for 'urging'said arms'and fingers to the outwardly projecting pressure" of said strong leven in? raised: position, a? swinging tone! arm, means 1 130?; swing saidltone arm into and. out' of operative"v playing position; with respect? to the selected; recordriand a. part carried: by" saidi'last fingers at the edges of the records adapted to: named means positioned in lthe pathof'saidftrip per armitoi'moye-itlre-same torshiftt the upturned portionioutiof supporting relation to said clutch controlileven' 1.1. record" changer as claimed: claim' 10 springs from said arms, lighter springs for remecharacterizecbbytheefactthatiaisecondfmember tracting-said arms and fingerswh'enthe load of the-stronger springsis-so relieved, hollowposts having slots through which the pivoted fingers project, catches on the under sides of said fingers adapted to engage the lower edges of' the slots, 5-

th'e'sl'ots being highenough to permit rotationrof the pivoted fingers sufficiently to, release the catches from thelower'ed'ges; said fingers having inner end portions-with oppositely disposed pro- I c jections, and'fiat' springs engaging against said m said turntable, rotary means fofrotatingsaid 2 2 5 turntable, horizontally'movable supporting means positioned to'enter between selected records to divide the stack'into'upper and lower sections with the upper section held upon said-supporting means-while tbe'turntable'is lowered with the for: tripping? the? tripper: arm? is-arranged ifi'nzthe pathmf raj-member ofi-tharselector mechanism a aamnnnons "CBPED The renew-m references are of ecord in the of "this pa tent:

UNITED STATES' PATENTS Name 7 Date 1,837,608 Bodwell etals Dec. 22,1931 2,09fiy7l'8 Hokansorr- Got- 26, 193.? 2,l04;032; Greenxun; Jan.- 4;;1938 2,159,834 Smyth May;23, 1939 Ebertret al':' -n -0ct=r14; 19451 I i oanion m'rnmsl c Number. Country 7 Date 107,912 1 Sweden, ,July 13, r943 

